In his landmark book Reinventing Comics (William Morrow, 2000) theorist, scholar and artist Scott McCloud described comics as a "misunderstood, squandered idea that seems increasingly obscure [and] small, like an atom waiting to be split." McCloud argued that new digital technologies would allow comics to evolve into new forms, incorporating such features as motion, sound, or interactivity, and to adopt a near-infinite number of possible sizes, shapes, and topics. Fast-forward almost 15 years, and comics have indeed been reinvented – although perhaps not in the ways McCloud envisioned. Which of McCloud's predictions came true, what surprising new twists and developments have emerged, and where might comics go in the next 15 years?

This Geek Speaks event will begin with a lively one-on-one conversation between McCloud and USC Provost's Professor of Communication, Journalism and Cinematic Arts Henry Jenkins, followed by a panel of respondents including Dan Burwen(Cognito Comics), Joe LeFavi (Quixotic Transmedia), Geoffrey Long (USC Annenberg Innovation Lab), Diana Williams(Lucasfilm) and other special guests.

The event will begin at 6PM on Thursday, October 23rd, 2014 in room SCA 112 in USC's School of Cinematic Arts.

The event is free and open to the public, but seating is extremely limited. RSVP is required.